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Dudley Road still closed five days after nightclub's roof panels blown off

Dudley Council is yet to confirm when the main road in Brierley Hill will be reopened.

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Dudley Road in Brierley Hill is shut after panels blew off the former Pulse nightclub, pictured

A busy road in Brierley Hill was still closed today - five days after high winds blew off part of a former nightclub's roof.

Dudley Road remained closed to traffic after the panels came off Pulse nightclub on Saturday, narrowly missing people waiting at a nearby bus stop.

Nobody was injured but neighbouring businesses were forced to temporarily close while structural engineers assessed the damage.

The panels that came off the roof

Police and fire crews were sent to the scene, along with Dudley Council workers, and firefighters found at least six more panels with the potential to fall into the street after using a hydraulic platform to assess the damage.

The council said on Monday that an industrial roofing contractor had been instructed to take the rest of the roof off "as a matter of urgency" in order to secure the building and reopen the road.

However five days on the road was still shut between Level Street and Venture Way, with no word from the council on when it will open.

The road was closed between Level Street and Venture Way

The businesses that neighbour the former nightclub could still be accessed by pedestrians.

Councillor Serena Craigie, for Brierley Hill, said the town was still busy despite the disruption.

She said: "There's high winds through at the moment, they're trying to stop any further debris coming off to make it safer.

"I've asked but I've not been told when it's reopening.

"It has been disruptive for residents but most of the businesses still have access and the town is still busy."

Pulse was shut down in 2014 after allegedly becoming a haven for gangs

It is not known who owns the three-storey Pulse building, but the property is listed for sale for £395,000 and according to letting agents Siddall Jones is in need of "thorough refurbishment". The council said that the owners were "aware of the situation".

The listed building has been empty since it closed in 2014 when it had its licence revoked by Dudley Council after police said the club had become a haven for gangs.

The following year a gunman who had opened fire outside the notorious nightclub was jailed for 10 years.

The road was shut to traffic but open to pedestrians

Pulse nightclub opened in 2011 in the former Danilo cinema, after it changed hands for £150,000.

The landmark art deco style building is steeped in history having played host to singer and ukulele star George Formby at its opening in 1936.

The Danilo cinema lasted until February 22, 1969.

It became a nightclub known as Eclipse, then as Oxygen and lastly as The Deep, before closing down about 2008.

Dudley Council has been approached for further details.